Lucknow: The third edition of the Prof. Sharib Rudaulvi Award 2025 was conferred on noted scholar and progressive critic Prof. Ali Ahmad Fatmi at a distinguished event held in the city on Sunday.
Organised under the aegis of the Prof. Sharib Rudaulvi Memorial Committee, the event took place at the All India Kaifi Azmi Academy, Nishatganj, and also featured the Prof. Sharib Rudaulvi Memorial Lecture. The award was presented by Justice Syed Qamar Hasan Rizvi, while Dr. Moosa Raza read out the citation highlighting Prof. Fatmi’s contributions to Urdu criticism and research.
The event was presided over by Dr. Ammar Rizvi, with Prof. Qamar Jahan attending as the chief guest. The proceedings were conducted by Prof. Abbas Raza Nayyar, whose engaging style and eloquence kept the audience captivated.
Delivering the welcome address, Prof. Reshma Parveen shared that Prof. Sharib Rudaulvi had wished for such an award to be instituted during his lifetime but had declined permission for it. She noted that previous recipients included Prof. Ateeq Ullah and Prof. Syed Mujawar Husain Rizvi, while this year’s honour recognised Prof. Fatmi’s outstanding literary scholarship.
In his acceptance speech, Prof. Fatmi expressed deep gratitude, stating that the recognition held special significance given his nearly five-decade-long association with Prof. Sharib Rudaulvi. He reflected on the latter’s role in advancing the critical tradition established by stalwarts like Hali, Azad, and Shibli, while also expressing concern over the shifting directions in contemporary Urdu criticism influenced by modernist and post-modernist trends.
Justice Rizvi, in his address, described Prof. Rudaulvi as a balanced and influential personality, noting that the same equilibrium was reflected in his literary criticism.
Adding intellectual depth to the occasion, Prof. Khalid Ashraf delivered a lecture on “Prof. Sharib Rudaulvi and His Critical Thought,” highlighting his extensive body of work, including 17 books. He particularly highlighted the popularity of Jadid Urdu Tanqeed: Usool wa Nazariyat, a seminal text that has seen multiple editions.
In his presidential remarks, Dr. Ammar Rizvi elaborated that as long as Urdu literature thrives, the legacy of Prof. Sharib Rudaulvi will endure. He described both Prof. Fatmi and Prof. Rudaulvi as pillars of the same critical tradition.
Several eminent scholars, including Prof. Qamar Jahan, Prof. Rooprekha Verma, Prof. Mohammad Kazim, and Dr. Khan Ahmad Farooq, also shared their insights during the event.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Asim Raza, Secretary of the Shoa Fatima Educational and Charitable Trust, while Vice President Dr. Yasmeen Anjum conveyed gratitude to attendees through an audio message.
The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from teachers, students, and literature lovers from various universities and colleges across the city, reaffirming Lucknow’s rich and enduring literary culture.
